Jackson, Warriors welcome higher expectations

Updated 10:29 pm, Saturday, October 26, 2013

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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Golden State Warriors' head coach Mark Jackson calls out a play in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, Friday, May 10, 2013 in Oakland, Calif.

Golden State Warriors' head coach Mark Jackson calls out a play in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, Friday, May 10, 2013 in Oakland, Calif.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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Warriors head coach Mark Jackson gestures during the game against the Thunder on Thursday night. The Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, April 11, 2013, and lost 116-97. less

Warriors head coach Mark Jackson gestures during the game against the Thunder on Thursday night. The Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, April ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Jackson, Warriors welcome higher expectations

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Last year, the Warriors weren't expected to do much.

A playoff berth represented ambition.

But Golden State surged, finishing with a 47-35 record, good for second place in the Pacific Division and the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The team played an exciting brand of basketball, marked by hard-nosed defense, rebounding and transition three-pointers.

And once they realized that postseason ambition, the Warriors upset the Nuggets in a six-game, first-round thriller. Then pushed the powerhouse Spurs to six games before falling in the conference semifinals.

Conference semifinals? It was more than anyone expected.

But that was last year. This year, the Warriors are expected to win.

That's the situation facing Warriors head coach Mark Jackson, who heads into his third season at the helm with the team's best roster in memory. Perhaps success begets pressure.

Apparently not. You're talking about a guy who grew up in New York City, played for the legendary Lou Carnesecca at St. John's. Led the nation in assists, both in college and the pros. Played point guard for the New York Knicks. Played in 131 career playoff games. Launched a seven-year career as a TV analyst. And also found the time to become a pastor and start a nondenominational church with his wife, Desiree.

Jackson's always been the underdog who overcame. And he's doing it again.

When I asked him about the high expectations going into this season, he scoffed.

"Obviously, when you look at the expectations of the experts, all of a sudden they're so right, when last year they were so wrong. It's comical," Jackson said. "But we expect to be a very good team, and we don't run away from the expectations."

Right on, Coach. Embrace the challenge. Rise to the moment. Just hope no one gets hurt.

When the buzzer sounds on the Warriors' 2013-2014 season, trainer JoHan Wangmight be the team MVP. He needs to keep budding superstar Stephen Curryfrom turning his tender ankles, while simultaneously preventing brittle center Andrew Bogutfrom adding any more inches to his growing medical chart. Bogut's newly signed $36 million, three-year deal puts even more pressure on Wang, so maybe I should have talked to him about the Warriors' new pressure cooker.

Or maybe Wang should talk to Jackson, who seems up to any challenge at this point.

"I understand that people expect more, but it's the same for us, because inside that locker room and inside this organization, we felt the very same way last year that we do right now," Jackson said. "We expect to be a very good team, and we don't run away from the expectations."

There's only one man at Oracle Arena, on any given night, who knows what Jackson is really going through.

His name is Al Attles, the lifetime Warrior who started playing for the team in Philadelphia, teamed with legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond, and then coached Golden State to its only championship in 1975. As the Warriors wrapped up their preseason against Portland on Thursday, Attles watched from his usual perch atop the lower bowl of Oracle Arena.

"You're only as good as your players," Attles said, speaking a truth that Jackson has echoed in the past. "Sometimes, people misunderstand that. If you got the right players, good things can happen. That's what happened to me."

"That's the key," said Attles, in his low rasp. "If they stay healthy, they got a chance."

At a championship? We'll see.

In the end, it will be Curry and Bogut and Barnes and Klay Thompsonand the newly arrived Andre Iguodalawho will make the difference for the Warriors. Attles said it. And Jackson knows it.

"Anytime your center doesn't need help on defense, you don't have as many problems on the outside," said Attles, referring to Bogut's stout post presence. "I played with Wilt (Chamberlain), Nate (Thurmond) and Clifford (Ray). We didn't have to double anyone. I was kind of spoiled."

And the players hold Jackson's future on the sideline, as well. The team exercised its option on the coach's contract for the 2014-15 season. But they haven't agreed on a long-term deal yet. Ownership seems willing to wait and see.

Which brings us back to expectations. If Bogut mans the paint, if Iguodala delivers and Curry ascends to his rightful All-Star status, Jackson and the Warriors will have no excuses.

Good thing they're a no-excuse team, as Jackson often says.

"Anytime there's expectations, there's more pressure," said second-year forward Draymond Green. "But Coach is the right guy for the job. He's been like that his whole life. He surrounds himself with people who can win.

"And there's no reason to change. That's when you go wrong. When you try to reinvent the wheel."

Jackson has been given the tools to ascend the NBA's power structure. Last season, the Warriors posted the second-highest increase in winning percentage in the league, improving from .348 in 2011-2012 to .573 in 2012-2013. Jackson became only the second Warriors coach in 20 years to lead the team into the second round of the playoffs, joining Don Nelson. He's only the fourth Golden State coach to reach the playoffs since 1970, alongside Nelson, Attles and George Karl.

So, can he keep the momentum going? The team's history makes it questionable. The coach's history makes it hard to question.

"We didn't sit on what took place last year," said Jackson, looking relaxed before the long season begins against the Lakers on Wednesday. "We're excited about building, becoming better and finishing much better than we did last year. It's something we embrace and look forward to."

Watching the Warriors

Some preseason observations:

-- Stephen Curry looks comfortable wearing his new superstar status. As the first half of Thursday's game against Portland came to a close, he looked to be in midseason form. Holding the ball at the top of the circle. Drifting right slowly. Then burying a three-pointer to put the Warriors up 48-41.

-- It was a nice reminder of that glorious playoff run Curry had last spring, when his threes would lift the roof off the gym. The preseason crowd at "The O" was clearly rusty, though. The roar was all out of sync.

-- Newly signed backup center Jermaine O'Neal has more left in the tank than I expected. Good energy. Nice low-post moves.

-- The second unit may have trouble scoring now that backup point guard Jarrett Jack has departed. Fourth-year man Toney Douglas was brought in to back up Curry and pick up the slack. But if he doesn't shoot well, look for rookie Serbian guard Nemanja Nedovic to steal some minutes.

-- Andre Iguodala is a perfect fit for this team, both in talent and temperament. Solid citizen. All-Star. Olympic gold medalist.

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